Government urged to unlock £1.5bn by encouraging investment to flow into region’s ports
The Great South West Partnership is calling for the Government to deliver a ‘multi-port solution’ that would unlock major investment opportunities and harness the full economic potential of the region’s ports.
The partnership has published a Multi-Port Statement, delivered by Celtic Sea Power in collaboration with the region’s ports, which sets out how a coordinated, multi-port investment solution across the South West and South Wales could unlock the UK’s £47bn floating offshore wind (FLOW) opportunity.
It says this multi-billion pound opportunity is currently being held back by complex barriers to port growth, from infrastructure, planning and regulations, to improving the conditions for investment into large-scale renewable projects.
The proposed solution demonstrates the unique capabilities of individual ports, how the benefits of collaboration can be harnessed, and why this is critical to the UK’s economic growth, energy security, and defence resilience, in parallel to meeting the anticipated surge in FLOW deployment over the coming decades.
The report also says the benefits of the multi-port approach will also be critical to providing confidence to investors in backing the South West as a strategic industrial hub.
It sets out what the region needs from the forthcoming National Wealth Fund: targeted co-investment in shared infrastructure such as grid upgrades, transport links and logistics facilities, to unlock private capital and accelerate industrial development across the South West’s port network.
With more than £1.5bn in capital investment opportunities already identified across South West ports – from Appledore and Plymouth to Portland and Falmouth – the region, coupled with South Wales, is ready to deliver 100% of the port activity needed for industrial-scale FLOW in the Celtic Sea and beyond.
Commodore (Rtd) Steve Jermy, chief executive of Celtic Sea Power and chair of the Celtic Sea Cluster, said: “Ports are the backbone of the FLOW industry. The South West’s collaborative port network, together with our industrial strengths and maritime legacy, makes us a significant contender on the global stage.
“This statement is a rallying call for a national solution that unlocks our regional potential, and secures the UK’s clean energy leadership.”
The Port Statement complements the Great South West’s FLOW Prospectus, published by the University of Plymouth, Supergen ORE Hub, Celtic Sea Power and the South West Infrastructure Partnership last November.
The FLOW Prospectus outlines how the region is a key player in realising the UK’s clean energy powerhouse ambitions, and is aligned to the UK’s wider Industrial Strategy and the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan. It reinforces the critical need to invest in port and manufacturing infrastructure, and support the UK’s clean energy transition.
Dame Judith Petts, Professor Emeritus at the University of Plymouth and chair of the Great South West Energy Programme Board, said: “A multi-port solution is a national imperative. Government investment in infrastructure and skills will deliver far greater return when our ports work as part of a joined-up ecosystem.
“It is clear that the South West has a leading role in the UK’s future energy system and industrial growth, but we need the right approach to unlock that potential – for the region and the rest of the UK.”
Richard Ballantyne, CEO of the British Ports Association, added: “Our ports are on the front line of delivering the UK’s net zero, defence and economic growth ambitions. By taking a coordinated approach, we can maximise our infrastructure assets and accelerate investment in the region’s clean energy and maritime capabilities. The Celtic Sea offers enormous economic potential, and this strategy will ensure we’re ready to meet it head-on.”
Plans for FLOW in the Celtic Sea have progressed, with The Crown Estate’s latest leasing round for three sites in the area entering its final stages this month.
The companies bidding have shortlisted a range of locations for the assembly and deployment of offshore turbines, including Plymouth and Falmouth ports. The bidding process has highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated approach to deliver the scale of infrastructure, skills and supply chain capacity needed across the region.
The call for a multi-port solution comes as Government takes welcome steps to streamline the regulatory landscape under the Plan for Change, with Defra working at pace to simplify processes that have previously delayed progress, and appointing a single lead regulator for major projects.
The Great South West is now working with ports, local authorities and industry to shape a collaborative roadmap for delivery, calling for clear recognition from central Government of the strategic national role the region can play.
